A FORMER accountant with a 50-a-day strong painkiller addiction forged a prescription to try to get more pills, a court heard.

Burnley magistrates were told how Sara Nazurally, 37, whose habit has already landed her in jail for six months and who struck on licence, had not been able to get the help she needs from medics to kick her habit.

The bench said they bel-ieved the health services had failed her.

Nazurally started taking coproxamol after suffering spinal injuries in a car smash 12 years ago. Doctors told her they were not addictive, but her habit took an even greater grip on her after her sister was killed in a Padiham house fire in 1999.

The court was told how in jail Nazurally's only offer of assistance had been the heroin substitute methadone, which she refused.

Nazurally, of Eastern Avenue, Burnley, admitted forging a prescription and fraud, last October 22.

She was bailed until February 1, for a pre-sentence report and the bench said they were thinking of a community order with drug rehabilitation or to address substance related offending.

The chairman told her: "You appear to have been let down by the health services when seeking help for your addiction."

She has 12 convictions for similar offences.

The court was told Nazurally got a prescription, photocopied it and filled in the details of another person.

The phar-macist became suspicious, contacted police and tried to detain her.

The defendant left and was arrested within yards of the shop.

David Leach, defending, said Nazurally had never been in trouble before 2002.

In 1995 she was in a road accident and was off work six months.

She was given pain killers for some time and after three years the defendant realised she was addicted.

Mr Leach said Nazurally had been told by several GPs that coproxamol was not addictive but she sought help.

She even went to a hospital casualty department asking to be admitted but her pleas again fell on deaf ears.

In 1999, Nazurally's sister died, she took it very badly and her addiction got worse.

The solicitor told the court the defendant paid for her pills and made no financial gain.

Mr Leach said custody had a severe detrimental effect upon the defendant.

She lost her job and her 12-year relationship broke down.

In prison she had been offered methadone but there was no other support offered to her and no counselling.

The solicitor told the court: "She takes 50 tablets a day.

"They contain paracetamol and its amazing she still has organs that are funtioning properly.

"She is crying out for help and a custodial sentence would not help her."

Mr Leach added Nazurally, who would not now be able to work as an accountant again because of her record, was the sole carer for her disabled mother who relied on her.